Many of you have asked where in the world I've been.

All I know is that after 7 plus years of blogging and a different lappy, which I don’t like, I seem to have lost my blogging fervor.

Someday, when you least expect it, I will post again.

For those of you still waiting I say thank you.

Meanwhile, I am rather prolific on twitter. Find me: @KeethaB
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The Eclectic Company - Waitin' on a New Adventure!!
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Wednesday, June 3, 2009

I've Got a Bone to Pick With You - - -

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It's THAT time again!!!! Vintage Thingies Thursday over at Coloradolady and Thrifty Thursday at Bloggeritaville.














A few years ago I used to spend a lot more time in Antique Shops than I now do. There were a few choice items that I wanted to add to my collection of antique dishes.

One such item was a set of bone dishes.

(photo of antique bone dishes)
(Just for explanation - I do not own these)

For those of you who may not know, bone dishes were part of the quintessential Victorian table setting. Normally they were crescent shaped and made of fine china. They were placed beside the plate as a sort of "side board" to hold discarded fish bones as one ate.

While I have never USED a bone dish in my life, I remember many a childhood fish dinner where I would have LOVED to have had one. They are pretty and unique, so I began to search for my OWN set.

This is what I found:


I hit the jack pot!!!! I found a set of bone dishes with a serving platter!!!


The shell serving dish is finished with iridescent ivory - - - reminds me of mother-of-pearl. Perched on it's edge are two little three dimensional goldfish.


And the bone dishes themselves? FISH - - - how perfect is that?

On the underside of one of the bone dishes it says: "Vee's hand made", which leads me to believe they were someone's ceramics project and not fine china. However, they were so cute I paid the $7 asking price - - - making them a THRIFTY deal to boot.

Perhaps on another shopping spree I'll find the real, antique thing!!! Then again, when I already HAVE a fish bone dish, why would I NEED anything else?

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52 comments:

Debby@Just Breathe said...

What a find. They look too nice to be someones project. I didn't even know there was such a thing for fish bones. Very cute.

Coloradolady said...

Well, I certainly learned something today. I had not heard of bone dishes, but how cute are these?!

What a great price too. I can remember as a kid eating fried catfish, and it would have been great to have a little dish like this....for the bones that is! I most likely would not have wanted to use them...too cute!

Cindy (Applestone Cottage) said...

Hi Keetha,
Those are so cute and unusual~ You could do a really neat table with them and what a great deal my friend. Cindy

j said...

I had never heard of bone dishes! I feel all backward and countrified all of a sudden :)

Very cute dishes Keetha.

Leigh of Tales from Bloggeritaville said...

Why, gracious me....me and Jennifer are from the same part of the country, not far from one another and I too feel so sheltered. I havent heard of them, but wow! How pretty! And neat! Unique! Great thrifty thursday find! Thanks for participating!

ellen b. said...

What a fun set these fishies are! I don't think I've ever seen anything like them.
The plates on my tablescape are by Warren Kimble...

SueLovesCherries said...

What a beautiful and unique set!

★Carol★ said...

I have never seen such a cute set before! I've got a couple bone dishes that I use to hold jewelry.
I see that you are a transplanted Badger--I'm headed for Price County, Wisconsin next week. I love the Northwoods!

Altered Glass said...

That's a new one on me, never heard or used such a thing. If I was exposed to a bone dish, I didn't know it. You are a deal hunter, can I go junkin' with you? Might take me a day to get to your place first. I'm a ways away!

nancygrayce said...

If someone made them, they did a great job! I love the fish and bone dishes! I'll have to look for some next time I pass an antique store.

Postcardy said...

Those fish look so cute all lined up like that.

The dish looks like it is a different style than the fish, so maybe someone just painted them in the same colors. I am thinking of some Japanese ceramic cats that I bought together but are really different style although from the same company.

Chandy said...

Keetha, jackpot you hit for sure! Love the shell platter and all that fish dishes. So neat of a set!

Vicky said...

Wow, what a wonderful collection of bone dishes!
learn something new today!

Ulla said...

Very special dishes! Now you just need to cook fish meals twice a week, like recommended.

Diane said...

I love the bone dishes and to find them WITH the serving dish is excetional. Great shoppin, Keetha!

Congratulations on your 'Lovely Blog Award'; it is so richly deserved!

BTW, the 'sex' in my blog addy must definitely be something with you cause there definitely isn't any of that goin on around here these days!!!! ~~~sigh~~~ ;)

Many hugs............

Diane

Unknown said...

I love your bone dishes, they are so unique and the attention to detail is wonderful! In my family we almost always have a side plate, and in restaurants my dad always requests one.

fitty's pinky rose cottage said...

what a great collection and unique too! thanks for sharing and have a great day! happy VTT

Marie Reed said...

How perfect! Now I want to search high and low for bone dishes! I've always hated keeping the bones on my plate:)

LuLo Designs/Blue Eyed Tango said...

Hi there,
Thanks so much for stopping by! Love the the little fish dishes! My sister lives near Kokomo and my niece went to Indiana Wesleyan! I'm in Warsaw! I grew up near Deer Creek on 421/29 Those were horse bridles you saw hanging in my kitchen! Six horses! My other blog has a ton of photos....blueeyedtango.blogspot.com We have had some tack getting stolen around here so had to bring them inside....I know very unconventional! LOL! I debated before I posted the photo about it them being there but that's the only one I had! LOL! Have a great Thrity Thursday!

Anonymous said...

Oh my gosh! Those are great! I often use bone dishes but did not realize they had an actual legitimate name! We use little bowls for things like shrimp shells, empty corn on the cob, cherry pits, etc.

Thanks for sharing - your little fish are really great!

KBeau said...

Those are just so cute. So you say you've never used a bone plate in your life. So just what do you do with those? Just kidding. I've been guilty of buying things I like but I've never used. And after all, they were only $7.

Garden State Kate said...

That is wonderful! I love when things are so useful, and saving
something that was precious to someone else always makes me feel good.

elsa said...

O.M.G!!!
Did you hit the jack pot?
YEAH, I would say so, yeah I would.
Those are soooooo lovely!
I actually thought the top ones were nice before I scrolled down to the fish ones- the fish ones are divine!
now, that is a sweet catch!
too cool keetha-
i think i am jealous

Trish said...

What a find!!! I have never heard of a bone dish before.
Keetha...You're still teaching while on summer vacation!
I miss antiquing with my precious Mom-in-law...she is at home with the Lord now. But I have lovely reminders decorating my home.
~hugs~
trish

Miri said...

Love your shell serving dish and fish bone plates! Never knew about bone plates as part of Victorian table settings-thanks!

Susan said...

How many times I've put a regular plate on the table to collect bones--this is more elegant. Someone did a fabulous job in ceramics class. I used to do that years ago. On another note: My BIL went to Taylor Universary back in seventies. He and my sister lived and worked in Marion for a short time. He also was headmaster of a Christian school in Kokomo for a few years. Now they live in Houston.

raxx a day in the life said...

What a find you got yourself! I love bargains, but not many to be had here i'm afraid.

Unknown said...

I am so envious. You certainly did hit the jack pot on that set. I love vintage and antique dishware that have fish. Now, for explaining about the bone dish...I couldn't thank you enough for explaining what it was. I am the proud owner of a set of bone dishes which I had no idea what they were exactly for! But they are pretty. I am so grateful for your post today. You learn something new, everyday. Please stop by and visit and browse for a while. If you like what you see, be sure to click the "Follow" button so that we can inspire each other often!

Tricia said...

Such a unique and cool find. I think it's fantastic that they were handmade. That means they're one of a kind. You can't beat that.
Have a fantastic day!
*Tricia

Bea said...

I've never heard of such things. Your set is so cute. I would have snatched them too.

CC said...

I've never heard of bone dishes before.., but the ones you've shown and the set you found for yourself are just beautiful. You are a lucky girl indeed. :). Happy VTT..have a lovely weekend.

Unknown said...

Those are great dishes!!

j said...

Girl! I've already seen yours. I was hopping around from Leigh's site and forgot about your fish plates.

They are still awfully cute :)

Leigh of Tales from Bloggeritaville said...

oooh! i checked out the ones you just posted. nice.

Anonymous said...

if i didnt live so far away i would ask you to invite me over for dinner to use the new treasures you found.
id hope to be able to use the bone plates to put the bones on then for me to choke on one, hee hee
sad we dont use stuff like this anymore,bring it back keetha!
all households should have some and i learned something new from you today, thanks!

Lynn said...

Seven dollars? Now that is a bargain! Round here we just shove our rib bones to the side of our paper plates!
Enjoying your freedom??

Sophie said...

Oh wow what a great set you found those are beautiful and that dish with the gold fish on top, how cute is that!
Sophie

Keetha Broyles said...

Oh Lynn - - - that a rib bone comment was so funny I told hubby all about it!!!

Donna said...

great bone dishes...when ever I found them it was alway just one or two alike not a set like you have

Glenda/MidSouth said...

How neat - Heard of bone china, but never heard of bone dishes. Good deal.
Glenda

Linda said...

Thanks for filling us in on bone dishes...you truly learn something new everyday!

What a great find!

Kristin - The Goat said...

I thought those little curved plates were for a small salad. I had no idea they were called bone plates. Well, I love the ones you found. They are so much fun! I'd have to use them often, even if we didn't have fish lol

mub said...

These are great, I would've been excited about finding them too!

viridian said...

I have seen bone sishes, more like the first picutre in your entry. What a find - They are great.

Chari at Happy To Design said...

Hi Keetha...

Girl, I love your set of bone dishes...they really are unique and soooo adorable! I couldn't have passed them up and for $7 you got a great deal!!! I love that there is a shell shaped platter with the set...so pretty!!! Do you use them or are they "look pretties"? Hehe!

Okay my friend, you asked about seeing a photo of my honey...if you can wait just a couple of days...I have planned Sunday Favorites with a photo of my honey...just for you!!! If fact, I made the post in your honor! Hehe!!!

Hope that you're having a great week! Talk with you soon...
Chari

Jen said...

I have heard of bone dishes before, but never knew what they were. What a cute set you have!

Christina said...

I learn something new everyday. Bone dishes---make sense.

They are very pretty too. Great finds.

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful treasure! I just love that the bone dishes are fish! ~Kelly

JEWELGIRL said...

These are cool, if you eat bone in chicken do you use the fish shaped bone dishes too? Just wondering...?
Cute post!

Anonymous said...

i love bone china teacups..your fish plates are very unique & fun :)

Sophie said...

Very cute -- I used to love walking along the beach with my mom with my mom, we liked collecting sea shells, so I really like those sea shell plates :). Have a great weekend, thank you for stopping by my blog!

kyooty said...

These would be perfect for my hubbie's hotwing addiction!